Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing, the largest marketer of South African apples and pears, and the biggest supplier of Abate Fetel pears, is investing in a varietal-specific promotion to drive consumer awareness of Abate Fetel and sales at retail level.
Tru-Cape managing director Roelf Pienaar says with each season that Abate Fetel is marketed locally, more and more consumers get to experience the versatile pear which, unlike most other pears that need to be ripened at home, is good to eat fresh and crisp and as delicious as it ripens and the white flesh becomes juicy.
“People also seem to like that Abate Fetel is Italy’s favourite pear and one of the most ancient - it was cultivated by a French Monk, Abbe Fetel, in 1866”, he says adding, “While Packham’s Triumph is still the most popular pear, plantings of Abate Fetel are increasing and far in the lead of other historically popular pear varieties like Rosemarie, Forelle and Bosc."
There is a material increase in Tru-Cape's Abate Fetel sales year on year.
“It is only in the last couple of years, following an especially strong European crop of Abate Fetel which made it hard for us to reach the wanted export price, that we decided to develop the market in South Africa for this varietal," said Pienaar.
"It is one of the best things we did, and we expect Abate Fetel to take the lead as Italy’s and South Africa’s favourite pear in years to come."
